Month: June 2017

The first of the classic mysteries featuring governess-turned-detective Miss Silver, who investigates a deadly conspiratorial ring.

Blackmail, kidnapping and murder is what meets Charles Moray return to England. A gang is using his family home for a meetings, held by a man wearing a grey mask. And what makes it impossible to go to the police, is the fact that his ex-fiancee Margaret Langton is involved.

A friend suggests involving a private enquiry agent. Charles Moray goes to the meeting Miss Maud Silver, unsure how she is possibly going to help…

I have loved the Miss Silver mysteries since I was a teenager. These are my go to comfort reads and listens to.

Read the paperback when it first came out. Now I have gone back and listened to the audiobook. Which is well narrated by Angela Starling.

Home-renovation and repair business is booming, in the seaside town of Lighthouse Cove in northern California. And aptly named Shannon Hammer is the best in the business.

When the body of a previous blind date, ends up dead on one of her work sites. Murdered with one of Shannon’s signature pink work tools. Shannon becomes prime suspect. When a second murder happens, with another of Shannon’s tools. She has to now clear her name, before the New Chief of Police arrests her for double murder.

With a good set of characters, in a well plotted and written mystery.

I loved and enjoyed this mystery the first time round, and it was even better listening to the narration from Angela Starling the second time.

“Sorry about the recipe. And the marmalade. But I’m happy to offer up myself for jam making when your in the mood for something a little tart, a bit sweet, and a lot fruity.” – D

With Jeff’s granddad in a nursing home. Jeff is left to travel back every few weeks from Sydney and his banking job to check on his granddads house.

On arriving he finds someone in the garden picking the oranges. When the intruder is challenged, instead of running, he introduces himself as Danny, Jeff’s granddads neighbour. And explains that he’s picked the oranges to make marmalade.

Can a new friend, shared passion, and marmalade, be the ingredients to set Jeff in a new direction?

I loved this short romp, and would love to see and read a follow up story to see what path Jeff decides to take.

Loved the characters in this well written novella. With a storyline/situation that many people go through.

One hundred and thirty photographs highlight the history, culture, and sparkle of Charleston, South Carolina, once considered the jewel of England’s crown. Tag along on this tour of a town with a storied past, from grand tourist magnets like Middleton Plantation to the humbling Old Slave Mart Museum. Meander along streets lined with live oak trees. Glimpse lovely gardens behind wrought iron gates. Imagine the smell of blooming jasmine thick in the air and the clip-clop sounds of horse-drawn carriages. For the resident, frequent visitor, or armchair traveller, these photographs capture the soul of an assertive southern belle.

A photographic tour around South Carolina’s historic town of Charleston. Perfect for any armchair traveller like myself, to see places that they may never get a chance to visit.

I loved looking at this delightful book, with it’s stunning photographs, bringing to life the Southern charm and beauty of the historic town. It is one place that I would have loved to have visited.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Published by Schiffer Publishing and downloaded via NetGalley.

A few hours before Senator Greer intended to renounce his support of public utilities, he was found murdered in his study. Washington police knew he lived in a maze of political intrigue, surrounded by enemies. They knew, too, about lovely Lynn Ash, secret lobbyist for the utility interests, who had been closely associated with Greer. But when they went to question her, they found she had been strangled to death in her car. The case was a stalemate until Colonel Primrose, sentimental gentleman sleuth, smoked out the killer in this breathless mystery novel of the nation’s cosmopolitan capital.

I just love going back in time, and reading the classic vintage “Golden Age” mysteries from the early, to middle part of the 20th century.

The Strangled Witness is the first of the Colonel John Primrose mysteries, and is full of atmosphere and electric charge from the era.

I enjoyed this first outing of Colonel Primrose and the solid Sergeant Buck, and look forward to reading and reviewing more of their adventures…where you will be introduced to the lovely Grace Latham.

Sadly these classics are hard to find. Thankfully I have managed to collect the majority of the Leslie Ford books, including all the Colonel John Primrose and Grace Latham mysteries, over the last 40 years.

Where as most of us will probably only visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks main visiting areas. This book of stunning photographs will show you the beauty of the Yellowstone country.

From the majestic wildlife, to the fabulous landscapes. Along roads that are less travelled by visitors, these pictures will bring alive the natural beauty of the Yellowstone country, spanning Idaho, Wyoming and Montana states.

For an armchair visitor, who may never visit this area. I found the photographs rich and stunningly beautiful in this coffee table book.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd and downloaded via NetGalley.

From the end of book #1- A Man of Some Repute. Freya and Hugo’s discovered a letter from a mysterious Mary Louise to the late Lord Selchester, stating “My Dearest Husband”.

Had Lord Selchester married this Mary (Marie) Louise? And if so, was it legal? Was his marriage to Freya’s aunt bigamous? And will this put a stop to Lady Sonia being able to sell the castle to a Swiss Hotel Consortium?

Freya gets warnings from the family and others, to drop it. But Freya is fighting with her conscience, and just can’t let ‘sleeping dogs lie’.

This series has to be read in order, to get the full effect. This is the prequel to book 2, and it adds background to the next book. But is only available in ebook/kindle, so can be missed out, without spoiling the effect of the next book – A Question of Inheritance.

Really enjoying this series. With a good set of characters, in a well crafted and written mystery.